the-BA : CREST Star Investigators Prelim Evaluation

Image of children engaged in a CREST Star Investigators activity

A new scheme to support science clubs in primary schools has received a positive response from children and organisers, according to preliminary evaluation results.

CREST Star Investigators is a UK-wide programme that provides schools and other organisations with packs full of motivating activities to use in after-school clubs. The activities focus on thinking and talking about science, encouraging children to solve scientific problems through practical investigation. They are designed to be run by organisers of after-school clubs and science clubs, or even by Brownies and Cubs, using everyday materials.

An independent evaluation of the scheme has been commissioned by the BA, who developed the scheme, financed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the chief supporter of the scheme.

The evaluation indicates children with a wide spread of abilities are using the materials, and that these have been very well received. ‘Normally in science class, we write in books and stay at our tables,’ commented a student from Joseph Lancaster Primary School in South London. ‘In science club, we’ll get up and discuss with people from other tables and we do more experiments than in normal science class.’

The badges and stickers that are awarded to help the children monitor their progress are particularly popular. According to a teacher in Bedfordshire, the pupils ‘are very proud to wear their science badges. They are keen to tell parents about everything they have done in science club.’

The evaluation suggests the scheme is being used mainly by primary schools so far, but also by home educators, companies promoting science education, and secondary schools using the activities to reach out to their primary feeder schools.

Over 800 schools and organisations have bought packs, and an estimated 15000 children are taking part in the scheme. Schools are beginning to have award ceremonies to celebrate their pupils' work. For example, during National Science and Engineering Week Talbot House School in Bournemouth organised an award ceremony for children who had achieved Star Awards.

Organisers are positive about the materials, saying they are ‘well-laid out’ and comprehensive for the non-scientist’.

Gillian Watt from Hillhouse C of E School, Essex, said, ‘I was impressed; the cards are helpful and easy to follow, so helpers do not feel they need a science background.’ Another organiser commented that the new layout was easy to use and that the teachers’ resources helped them plan effectively.

Home educator Samantha Wood says: ‘I have found this scheme really easy to do and have had lots of fun with my son at the same time. We have had some brilliant days together doing the mini beast hunt and the rainbow of natural colours. I am finding the course really interesting and so is my son.’

Annette Smith, Director of Regions at the BA, says: ‘We are delighted by the response to CREST Star Investigators in the first few months of operation. It is vitally important to measure the impact of these activities to demonstrate their effectiveness in enhancing children’s experience of science.’

Anyone interested in registering to use the scheme can find out more by visiting the CREST Star Investigator webpages or by emailing creststar@the-ba.net.

The scheme has been developed by the BA and made possible through support from GSK and London Engineering Project (LEP). All the materials in the resource packs are written by Millgate House Education, creators of the famous ‘Concept Cartoons in Science Education’.

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